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Total will pay almost $400 million in fines and penalties after it was accused
by American authorities of bribing an Iranian official to win lucrative oil
and gas contracts.

France’s largest oil company and four individuals — including Christophe de
Margerie, its chairman and chief executive — are also potentially facing
prosecution in Paris for possible violations of French criminal laws.

Total is accused of paying about $60 million to an Iranian official between
1995 and 2004 for help in obtaining the rights to develop lucrative energy
resources, including the South Pars development in the Persian Gulf, part of
the world’s largest